Calling all Papamoa residents

Do you live or own property in Papamoa? Then the Papamoa Residents and Ratepayers Association wants you.

The group – previously the Papamoa Progressive Association – has been around in one form or another for more than a century, and current chair Wayne George says the time has come to get more residents on board.

“We have an executive committee of around 10 at the moment, and upwards of 200 members,” says Wayne, “but not all are active. We’re looking to expand that base.”

He says one of the association’s main roles is making submissions on behalf of members to Tauranga City Council – particularly on issues around infrastructure.

“If people are members they can help us generate a better outcome for our little community,” says Wayne.

“The biggest infrastructure issue for us at the moment is at the eastern end of Papamoa with the population growth. Papamoa Beach Road is the only way in and out of Papamoa East, and if there was a tsunami or other disaster, that’s the only road people can take to get out.”

Wayne says ideally, there would be a mixture of young and old among new members.

“However, Papamoa East seems to be attracting the younger generation, and we’d like to get them involved as we believe they have lots of time and energy.”

The association meets on the second Monday of every month at 7.30pm at the Papamoa Sports and Recreation Centre at Gordon Spratt Reserve.